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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Anthony Blair

'Deliveroo-style' volunteer scheme sends food and medicine to thousands in lockdown

Volunteers are running a 'Deliveroo-style' scheme sending food and medicine to thousands in lockdown during the coronavirus outbreak.

The scheme, set up by Pembroke House community centre in Walworth, south London, takes food to people unable to leave their homes or recently unemployed as a result of the pandemic.

Volunteers have already delivered food, medicine and even cooked meals to hundreds in the area, and there are plans to ramp up the project significantly in the coming weeks.

Starting from scratch last month, there are now more than 50 active volunteer riders, who last week clocked up 144 hours in the saddle.

In one week they delivered to 323 households, dropping off over two tonnes of groceries along with 214 cooked meals and even one supply of emergency insulin.

And they're growing fast, with plans to double in size by the end of April.

Deliveroo have even agreed to donate some bags to the riders.

Do you know a coronavirus hero? Get in touch with your story at webnews@mirror.co.uk

The scheme has delivered food and medicine to thousands of vulnerable south London residents (Pembroke House)

Southwark, where Pembroke House is based, is one of the hardest-hit regions in the country in terms of cases of Covid-19, with more than 1,000 in the borough testing positive as of Friday, April 17.

But this project, set up by Pembroke House staff and volunteers, is providing a lifeline to vulnerable residents in Southwark.

Earlier this month, hundreds of Easter eggs were delivered to nearby residents in the area, which has some of the most deprived estates in the capital.

A nearby rugby club even prepared hundreds of meals to be sent to homes (Pembroke House)
The organisers hope to more than double the number of people receiving help in the coming weeks (Pembroke House)

The distribution hub in Pembroke House is carefully laid out to maintain social distancing throughout the process.

Arrows on the floor guide riders around the hub in a one-way system, where they visit different stations to collect the food parcels.

All riders go out with hand sanitiser, ensure they handle the food safely, and place the parcels on people's doorsteps before stepping away.

The scheme has been a partnership with local groups including Southwark Council, Fooditude, Bermondsey Employment and Skills Training and Hubub.

Abi, one of the volunteers (Pembroke House)

Local rugby club Burgess Sports and Creation Trust cooked more than 200 meals which were then delivered by Pembroke House's riders.

Recipients referred by local groups and GPs include a family with three children, one with cancer, those recently discharged from hospital with severe health problems and a homeless man currently living in a disused property

The centre is now taking referrals from Southwark Council's Covid-19 hub.

In one week they delivered to 323 households, dropping off over two tonnes of groceries (Pembroke House)

Pembroke House volunteer Rich Mason, who has led setting up the bike deliveries, said: "I started out as a Deliveroo rider to make a bit of money while working on freelance projects, but I found the working conditions as well as the power dynamics shocking.

"For the past few months I've been thinking about how to create a more ethical food delivery service in London, and when the coronavirus crisis came along, I was poised to jump into action."

Saleem, another of the volunteers (Pembroke House)

Among the volunteers who have stepped up to help are furloughed cafe and bar staff, chefs, students, freelance creatives out of work, local councillors and builders.

Pembroke House was founded in 1885 by students at Pembroke College, Cambridge, and has worked with residents in Walworth ever since.

Mike Wilson, Pembroke House executive director, said: "Throughout our history, Pembroke House has stood ready to use one of our great assets - our building - to help the community in times of crisis.

"During the Second World War, we became an air-raid shelter. Fortified by blast walls, our hall sheltered 250 people from falling bombs.

"Walworth has always been a community that's pulled together in tough times and it's amazing to see the neighbourhood come together at this time of crisis as well."

For more information, click here.

You can donate to Pembroke House by clicking here.

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